The world of independent watchmaking is particularly diverse, but two of the industry's most prominent names have been Habring2 and Massena Lab, founded by husband and wife duo Richard and Maria Kristina Habring and William Massena respectively. In 2018, these three independent powerhouses decided to collaborate on a watch and create the Erwin LAB01, and since then have launched subsequent editions, with the LAB03 being the watch we have here. Vintage inspired, the Erwin LAB03 features a stunning salmon dial made by renowned California-based dial specialist J.N. Shapiro. On it, the Erwin LAB03’s dial boasts blue Roman numerals at the quarters to match its blued steel hands along with concentrically brushed chapter rings and an engine-turned basketweave pattern at its center that provides a rich contrast to the texture that surrounds it. Made of stainless steel and measuring 38.5mm in diameter, the LAB03 is a comfortable watch on the wrist and certainly very wearable. However, while the LAB03’s dial and construction are certainly enjoyable, the watch’s other side is a sight to behold too with a view of the LAB03’s in-house manual-wind cal. A11MS that includes a deadbeat function, so that it drives the second hand only once per second, giving the LAB03 the appearance of a quartz watch. A particularly complicated mechanism, the LAB03 had to be kept as a limited release, and so only 66 individually-numbered examples were produced with 5 pieces being delivered per month since the collection’s first delivery in January 2022 – a short four months after it was announced.

Watch is new and unworn.

An exercise in independent watchmakers flexing their horological muscles, the LAB 03 goes on to prove that it isn't only the big boys who can indulge in complex complications with its artisanal dial and inhouse movement showing that this watch means business on the outside just as it does on the inside.